Everett hayden



(No Model.)

B. HAYDEN.

GAME COUNTER.

No. 563,662 Patented July 7, 1896,

C O S M O S 17 w LLcaTeWhisE Coumler UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

EVERETT HAYDEN, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,662, dated July '7, 1896. Application filed May 22, 1896. Serial No. 592,616. (No model.)

cessively dealt around and played, a separate pack of cards being used for each hand. The scores of one side are marked, as they are made, in spaces (arranged one above the other or vertically) on a suitable score-sheet, each hand being kept separate as it is played. After all of the hands are played around they are again taken up and played over, being, however, exchanged, so that in this second or duplicate round each player holds a hand which an opponent previously held on the first round. The scores now made on the same hands to which the first scores corresponded are entered in another line of spaces on the score-sheet. The gains which one side makes over the other in playing the same hand are also entered in spaces on corresponding sides of the score-sheet and the final score computed by adding up all of the gains made by the respective sides.

Upon playing the second round a knowledge of the scores made in the first round would, to some extent, influence and govern the play, and it is very desirable to prevent any indication of this sort being furnished to the players.

The object of the present invention is to furnish means for conveniently keeping and preserving the score of the game in such manner that the scores of the first round, after being entered, can be covered or concealed from view without interfering with the entry of results of succeeding hands. Thus when ahand is played on the second round the players, even if they know the number of that hand, are not aware of the result thereof on the first round.

The device by means of which the forego ing object is attained has for its essential elements a base or tablet, a score card or sheet properly ruled and marked, as hereinafter specified, means for holding the card in proper position on the tablet, so that it can be readily removed and another card inserted for a new series of games, and means for covering each of the spaces in which the entries of the first round of games are made. The concealing devices, one for each of the blank spaces, are in the form of blinds or shutters adapted to be individually operated. They may be mounted so as to have a sliding or a pivotal motion.

The invention includes certain special features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth. 7

The invention and its uses can be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan View of a score board or device constructed in accordance with the in vention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section; Fig. 3, a partial cross-section, enlarged; and Fig. ais a partial longitudinal section, enlarged.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the base or tablet of wood or other material, on which the removable score sheet or card B is placed when in use, and upon which it is held in proper position during the counting of the series of'games.

The score-sheet B has, as shown, five vertical columns, the middle column Z7 containing in its successive spaces the consecutive numbers of the hands, (from 1 to 16 on the card shown.) The left -hand column (designated 0) is to receive the same score for each hand made on the first round by the players who sit north and south, (a space for their names being provided opposite the let- ,ters N and F at the top of the sheet.)

The extreme right-hand column d is to receive the score for each hand made on the second round by the east and west players. The column f is to receive entry of the gains made by the north and south players, and the corresponding column 9 the gains made by the east and west players.

The manner of keeping score in duplicate- Whist games, and consequently the particu' lar arrangement of the columns and spaces may vary somewhat, but the principle will be understood from the foregoing explanation.

The specific construction of the blinds and of the means for holding the score-card in place constitutes an important feature of this invention.

Referring to such mechanism, 0 represents a metallic plate secured along the under ed go of base A and having an extension 0 at about the middle thereof. Dis another plate overlapping the edge of the upper face of base A and having an extended portion D above extension 0 of plate 0. Plates 0 and D are connected by a hat U-shaped spring 0, secured at its ends to extensions C and D, and normally pressing plate D against the base A, thus holding the score-sheet B, which has been slipped under plate D, (as will be hereinafter explainech) securely in place.

Plate D is bent over the edge of the base A, forming a shoulder (1, preferably extending the entire length of the board and acting as a stop against which the edge of the score-sheet abuts when slipped into position. That part of the plate which overlaps the base A is formed with a series of ways f f therein, in which slide blinds g g, bent up at their ends to prevent displacement from their ways and to provide a grip or finger piece for moving the blinds, which have a suflicient frictional contact with their ways to retain them in any position to which they may be moved.

The ways f f are stamped up from the metal of plate I), leaving a series of depressions f separating the ways and the marginal strips f at the open ends thereof, forming the under supports for blinds g, which slide therein. For the sake of simplification but five of the blinds g are shown on the draw ings.

h 7L are pencil-clips placed on the extension D of plate D.

From the above description it will be understood that by pressing upon the extension D (which serves as a-thumb-piece) the plate D can be lifted off of the base to remove the old score-sheet and put a new one in place. In this connection it will be observed that the thickness of the sheet is entirely immaterial, and that a block containing a number of sheets can be used if desirable.

For the purpose of illustrating how the scoring device is used, I have shown in Fig. 1 the score entered for the first three hands in both rounds. For the first hand the north and south players made seven tricks, which result is entered in column 0, and the opposing players on the second round made six tricks, which result is entered in column (Z. This makes a gain of one for the first players, as entered in column f. For the second hand each side made nine, there being no gain. For the third hand the first players made four,

the second seven, leaving a gain of three for the latter, as entered in column g.

The invention is of course not limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described, as it maybe embodied in otherforms without departure from the principle thereof.

For the purposes of explanation reference has been made to the game of duplicate whist, but it will be understood that there are several variations of the game of whist in all of which the device may be employed, and that it may also be used in keeping scores of other games where results similar to those above indicated are desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A scoring device or counter comprising a base or tablet, a removable score-sheet having a line of spaces for entering the result of each hand played, means for holding the score-sheet in proper position on the tablet, and a series of blinds, each adapted to be moved into position to cover the entry in one of the spaces in said line, substantially as dcscribed.

52. The combination of the base or tablet, the score-sheet having columns one of which contains the numbers of consecutive hands and the others blank spaces for the results of each hand, and a series of movable blinds, each adapted, when moved into proper position, to conceal a space in one of said columns, so as not to interfere with the entry of results in the other columns, or in other spaces of the same column, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a base or tablet, the score-sheet having a line of spaces for enterin g the result of each hand played, a movable plate resting against the score-sheet and holding it in proper position on the base, a series of blinds on the plate each adapted to be moved into position to cover the entry in one of the spaces, and means for lifting the plate and the blinds with it to release the scoresheet, substantially as described.

i. A scoring device comprising a base, a removable score-sheet having a line of spaces for entering the result of each hand. played, a spring-actuated plate overlapping the edge of the base and holding the score-sheet against the latter, a series of slideways in said plate, and movable blinds engaging in. said ways, each adapted to be moved into position to cover the entry in one of the spaces, and means for lifting the plate against the tension of its spring, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a base or tablet, of a score-sheet having a line of spaces for entering the result of each hand played, a plate overlapping one edge of the base and holding the score-sheet in position on. the lat ter, said plate being bent over the edge of the base to form a stop or shoulder against which the score-sheet abuts, an extension on IIO the plate, a spring connecting said extension specification in the presence of two subscribto the base and pressing the plate against the ing Witnesses. latter, and a series of movable blinds on the plate, each adapted to be moved into position EVERETT HAYDEN 5 to cover the entry in one of the spaces, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as described. REEVE LEWIS,

In testimony whereof I have signed this PHILIP MAURO. 

